Virginia man arrested in alleged catfishing scheme in Connellsville
A Virginia man was arrested after a woman he met on an online dating site became suspicious and unraveled the strange narrative he wove her.
The man allegedly told her his name was Charlie Gaines and he was from Tennessee. Police said his real name is Clifford Gordon Bledsoe, 30, of Weber City, Virginia.
The woman called police at about 1 a.m. Friday from Highlands Hospital in Connellsville, where she works. Police did not identify the woman. She told police the man was at her house, and had been staying there for a few days. Before she left for work, she said Bledsoe insisted that she drive his truck to work. When she got in the truck, she found a shotgun inside, according to court documents.
鈥淪he advised that while she was at work, she began talking with a friend, and that inconsistencies in his story aroused her suspicion,鈥� Trooper Jared King wrote in the affidavit of probable cause.
She said they Googled the name he gave her, and only found results for Buffalo Bills Cornerback Charles Gaines.
When she Googled the name on the truck蘑菇视频 registration card, she found a Facebook post from the truck蘑菇视频 owner saying his truck was stolen, along with a photo of the suspect, who the woman recognized as Bledsoe.
State police found Bledsoe had two outstanding warrants. Police searched the stolen vehicle and found a Winchester shotgun, three prescription pill bottles with altered labels, and a Poca Valley Bank check card belonging to Jodie Carnefix.
The trooper found Bledsoe at the woman蘑菇视频 house. Bledsoe聽confirmed his identity to police. Police said he had two prior felony theft convictions and was not allowed to possess a firearm, according to the affidavit.
Police charged Bledsoe with possession of a firearm prohibited, possession of an adulterated controlled substance and two counts of receiving stolen property.
He was arraigned Friday morning before on-call Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino Jr., who set his bond at $75,000.
Bledsoe is lodged in Fayette County Prison.